News - Latest negative Microsoft ad takes aim at the Apple iPad

[HEXUS]

Meanwhile the Surface Pro becomes available in the UK from today.

Read more.

[avi8tor]

The style of the ad works - long may it continue.
Its about time someone (MS) stated to pull apart the whole purpose/usefulness of the ipad.

[crossy]

Nice ad, if a bit on the hurried and short side - just a shame that we don't get that kind of combative advertising over here.

Problem with it though is that it - imho of course - gives Apple a perfect opening for a rejoinder. The "Oh, so Windows 8 tablets are about doing? Well in that case our stuff does more because we've got a huge application, video and music store. How big's your app store Windows?"

That said, I've always thought that iPads, and especially the Mini, were overpriced for what they actually are.

[HalloweenJack]

waits for someone to pull apart the usefulness of the xbox media features needing 1/2 dozen extra boxes to work properly.... by sony

[jimbouk]

Something random with too many 'z's in

So yeah....

The ad doesn't come across too badly for negative advertising, using humour and putting them side by side and using them in a very simple 'apple like' way works. Though Microsoft not bothering to release their own software (Powerpoint) on the iPad is put as a plus point for the company, not sure how that works?

[Lerotz]

Well congratulations Microsoft you just decided to show the ASUS Vivotab Smart...which in my opinion is a great tablet....Too bad it's discontinued already. Seriously you won't find it in a Walmart, Bestbuy, and they are disappearing off Amazon too.

[Lerotz]

Nice ad, if a bit on the hurried and short side - just a shame that we don't get that kind of combative advertising over here.

Problem with it though is that it - imho of course - gives Apple a perfect opening for a rejoinder. The "Oh, so Windows 8 tablets are about doing? Well in that case our stuff does more because we've got a huge application, video and music store. How big's your app store Windows?"

That said, I've always thought that iPads, and especially the Mini, were overpriced for what they actually are.

Well the ASUS Vivotab is a Windows 8 tablet not RT, so really it can run ANY Windows application...So it has more "Apps" than Android and Ios does put together.

[CK_1985]

Just had a look and Office 365 home premium seems to be £59.99 at the moment, not £79.99 as stated in the article.

Also, I'd like to hear more from cloudys108

[crossy]

Well the ASUS Vivotab is a Windows 8 tablet not RT, so really it can run ANY Windows application...So it has more "Apps" than Android and Ios does put together.

Actually I was meaning Windows8 apps (so that's MUI-fied) instead of just any old application that might run on it. Remember that it's Apple's PR department I was speaking about too, so they won't "play fair" - in which case if they did do a counterblast you can bet that they'd only look at apps in the Window Store v's apps in iTunes App Store.
That said, the Vivotab kind of passed me by, took a look at the specs and it seems a reasonable box for the price - £379 from eBuyer which is less than the equivalent iPad. Only downside seems to be a distinct shortage of storage.

Also, I'd like to hear more from cloudys108

No, no, no, no, ... There was someone who posted like that on The Register and there was a lively debate whether it was a person or some kind of bot.

[addz17]

I kinda agree with the message this add is trying to get across. Apple is a fashion accessory... get windows if you want do do something other than just ****ing about.

[crossy]

I kinda agree with the message this add is trying to get across. Apple is a fashion accessory... get windows if you want do do something other than just ****ing about.

Only if by "windows" you mean "Windows8" and NOT RT. And I'm not in agreement that there aren't areas where iPads (and Android tablets of course) are quite capable. In the case of the iPad I'm thinking particularly of the wealth of music creation/editing software that's out there - all of which are (obviously!) tailored for working on a tablet. (Whereas the Windows ones will be invariably tailored towards a conventional desktop).

In my case (Android not iPad - I've got more sense than money) I've got apps related to guitar playing (metronome, tuner, lessons, music in tab format) and a video-based lesson series on it. Because it's on a tablet I can have that right next to me so it's more accessible plus I'm not burning the watts by having my main PC on.

Yes, it's a niche use, but there you go. I'm sure other folks have more "useful" uses.

[kingpotnoodle]

Something random with too many 'z's in

Though Microsoft not bothering to release their own software (Powerpoint) on the iPad is put as a plus point for the company, not sure how that works?

It's not about "not bothering" it's because porting their applications to an entirely different OS stack would not be trivial and would totally destroy one of their major competitive advantages. Microsoft don't want the OS choice to become irrelevant, it's a major money spinner!

IMHO it'd be a stupid idea for MS to port their key software to iPad or Android, doing so would relegate the OS even closer to an application agnostic minor consideration. I don't see people seriously suggesting Apple should port GarageBand and rest of iLife to Windows or Android...

[Pleiades]

It must be said [especially after the 1st teabreak] that the fact that almost EVERY Apple ad disses "The Others" but is seldom "reported" as such is becuz the fanbois rulez, OK? Why are humans so easily fooled/ganged-grened? Becuz EVERY human is dual natured with Applites being the only onez who are singularly natured. Singularly malevolent to self, that is, which they imagine is being malevolent to "The Others" - you know, in a kinda overwhelmingly superior kinda way.... etc

Must admit, it's very hard to argue with that viewpoint

It was a viewpoint, right?

[crossy]

IMHO it'd be a stupid idea for MS to port their key software to iPad or Android, doing so would relegate the OS even closer to an application agnostic minor consideration. I don't see people seriously suggesting Apple should port GarageBand and rest of iLife to Windows or Android...

See MS Office web apps on Android. And while I can see the point you're getting at, I don't agree with your assessment.

An Android user is a lost cause to MS at the moment. However, if you can "give" them the capability to use Office on their fondleslab then it's going to be far, far easier to sell them on the idea of getting Office on their desktop (which means it has to be a Windows one) AND perhaps down the line sell them an Office 365 subscription.

Anyone will realise that Office support will be best on desktop Windows, and then next best on phone/tablet Windows8. And while a bundled Office might sway new purchasers to buy portable Windows devices, (positive sales point), being able to get their hooks into current owners of competing devices HAS to be attractive.

Oh, and there's the small matter of positioning Office to be the unchallenged de-facto standard.

I can see the tag line now ... Office - we work wherever you are, whenever you need, and with whatever you've got. (Along with a small logo for "Runs best on Windows" ... of course).